The World Health Organization announced on Friday, 15.04.2022, that it is investigating several cases of severe liver disease in children, which have been detected in Spain, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Some cases required transfers to medical centers specializing in diseases to treat the liver, and six children underwent a transplant.
Experts believe it could be linked to a type of virus that is generally associated with a cold.
Cases of hepatitis in Spain
Regarding hepatitis cases in Spain “Three cases of hepatitis were found in children aged 2 and 7 in Spain. They come from Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha and Aragon. They are currently being treated at La Paz Hospital in Madrid, which specializes in such diseases. Laboratory tests have shown that we are not talking about a known type of hepatitis and its causes are being investigated. There are several hypotheses on the table of researchers in the UK, but also in Spain, and the strongest hypothesis is that this new type of hepatitis is triggered by a virus. The group of viruses is being studied, but the coronavirus virus is not excluded from this study. There are no vaccines that have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in any of these new types of hepatitis. In order to investigate this new type of hepatitis, the Spanish Ministry of Health has issued an epidemiological form that everyone in the Spanish medical system must use in order to detect all these hepatitis cases in January as quickly as possible. 2022 to date. This medical alert is only for medical staff, and the Spanish Ministry of Health is asking parents not to panic “, according to Antena3.ro.
The UK has investigated more than 70 cases in which children have suffered from hepatitis or liver inflammation.
There has been a recent increase in the spread of adenoviruses
Laboratory tests ruled out hepatitis A, B, C and E viruses, which usually cause such diseases. Officials say they are unaware of international travel or other factors that could have endangered children. But they noted that there has been a recent increase in the spread of adenoviruses. There are dozens of adenoviruses, many of which are associated with cold-like symptoms, fever, sore throat and inflamed eyes. But some versions can trigger other problems, including in the stomach and intestines.
Previously, adenoviruses have been linked to hepatitis in children, but especially in children with weakened immune systems. Some European children tested positive for adenovirus and some tested positive for COVID-19. But more laboratory research is needed to explore possible associations with specific viruses, the WHO said.
